“Good morning to you too.”
He doesn’t respond and remains in place, radiating the kind of low-level hostility like I’m somehow personally responsible for all of his life’s problems. I suppose in some way, I am.
Not exactly in the mood to make more enemies than I have to, I slide into the back seat. As soon as I’m inside, he closes the door with slightly more force than necessary before settling into the driver’s side.
We pull away from the curb, and I watch the streets zoom past me in a blur.
Except we’re going the wrong way.
“Um.” I lean forward. “This isn’t the way to the office.”
“No.” Alik’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror and he doesn’t bother hiding the irritation in his voice. “It isn’t.”
My pulse kicks up. “Care to elaborate?”
“Mr. Romanov has decided to relocate your workspace.” The words sound like they physically pain him. “To his penthouse.”
I stare at the back of his head. “I’m sorry, what?”
“His penthouse.” Alik takes a sharp left turn that I’m fairly certain is more aggressive than the road requires. “Unfortunately, I have to spend my morning driving you there, Ms.Creminelli.”
Fair enough.
I sit back and watch the city blur past, trying to process this development. My phone buzzes in my lap. It’s Nico.
Are you at the penthouse yet?
The words glow up at me, innocent and devastating. I read them twice, three times, my stomach slowly sinking toward my feet.
Another text appears:
I want to apologize for my men’s behavior last night. It was necessary.
Necessary? It was fuckingnecessary?
His men had a fuckinggundown my throat! If Slava hadn’t gotten to them by the time he did, I’m pretty fucking sure they would’ve raped me. And the only thing he can say is that it wasnecessary?
I choose not to respond.
My hands flex open and closed as I mull over everything. Just how much of this didNicoplan? Did he always intend to put me inside of Slava’s penthouse the moment he heard about how Slava and I saved each other at the Bellamy gallery the other week?
Was I really even in danger from his men last night?
Or did I inadvertently play my part perfectly? Wide-eyed and terrified andgratefulwhen my enemy swept in like a dark knight.
But that means…
Was Nico okay with just sending three of his men to their deaths so that he can put me in Slava’s penthouse? If he was willing to sacrifice his own men, then how do I know he won’t sacrificemewhen it becomes convenient?
For the last five years, I thought I was the one in control of my plan of vengeance. Suddenly, I’m not so sure if I’m a player or just a pawn on a board I can’t even see.
But as the doubt starts burrowing into my bones, another thought starts to surface—one that carries a whole new meaning after last night.
Spread those pretty legs and get in bed with him.
Heat rushes my cheeks and I close my eyes only to open them immediately.
“Fuck that,” I mutter.
